Morning Song – Ghana

November 14, 2015

On March 6, 1957 Ghana became the first sub-Saharan nation to win its independence from European colonization. Ten weeks later, Milt Jackson went into a New York City recording studio with his sextet to record “Ghana”. (Note: It’s hard to overestimate the effect of the mid-20th century pan-African independence movement on African-American culture and politics.)

Bouncy, jaunty, swinging, confident, determined, exuberant in an “eyes-on-the-prize” kind of way, “Ghana” is both a lovely tribute and—in its own quiet way—a call to arms.